Gary Dickinson, Coast Guard Veteran

“We Honor Veterans Program” is VNAHSR’s way of honoring veterans receiving Hospice services to offer gratitude and recognition for their dedicated service in their final days. Our wonderful hospice volunteers pinned and gave certificates ~50 veterans in 2025. Here is Gary’s story.

My name is Gary Dickinson, and I have fond memories from my time serving in the Coast Guard from September 1960 to September 1964. Though I didn’t experience combat, it was an interesting time in our country, as we were fighting in Vietnam and President Kennedy was assassinated.

I didn’t start out thinking about enlisting. I was a very independent-minded nineteen-year-old, living on my own and putting myself through college. I realized I had not traveled much outside of New England and was ready for something different than college. I thought about getting training to be able to work on cargo ships overseas. When I applied to a shipping company, I was told we had to be vetted by the Coast Guard in order to determine whether we had what it took to work on U.S. cargo ships overseas.

At that time, I spoke with a Coast Guard recruiter who convinced me that enlisting in the Coast Guard might provide me with better financial benefits and opportunities for training and travel. I was sent to Cape May, New Jersey, for Boot Camp. Next, I was sent to Mobile, Alabama, where I was assigned to the Coast Guard ship Sebago. That ship was used for Search and Rescue Operations and also patrolled the Campeche Bank near the Yucatán Peninsula, where Mexican and U.S. vessels fished for shrimp.

During those two years on the Sebago, we completed “Underway” training through the Navy. At that time, there weren’t established hearing protection regulations, and the communication devices and weapons we practiced using were extremely loud. It was during that time that I developed my hearing loss. Also, during that time, I requested to be stationed overseas so that I could travel. This desire to travel was a major reason for my initial enlistment.

After two years, my Chief approved my request, and I was stationed in the Philippines on the Coast Guard ship Nettle. The Nettle was a cargo ship. Back then, before GPS, several of those islands had long-range aid-to-navigation stations called LORAN. These stations had navigation systems that used radio waves to help determine the position of ships and aircraft. We patrolled all around those islands and provided supplies to those stations. We also engaged in Search and Rescue Operations.

During that time, I had the chance to visit Hong Kong and Japan. I also had the chance to acquire a motorcycle—along with twenty-four of my crewmates! I was also one of only a few to get a military-grade driver’s license so that I could be a driver if needed for transporting military personnel to various places.

When my four years were up, I was told that I would need to transfer to the Navy and become a Gunner’s Mate if I wanted to remain in the service. My Senior Chief at the time was a great leader, and he stood by his men. He was a “straight shooter.” He pulled me aside and told me that I would be in a very dangerous position as a Gunner’s Mate, as they were very “exposed” on Navy vessels and were responsible for operating weapons during combat encounters. Gunner’s Mates were often targeted by the enemy, he said, so that they could destroy the weapons systems on a ship. The Navy had a strong presence during the Vietnam War, and I decided not to re-enlist. I know now that my Chief probably saved my life.

At the end of my tour, I had a great time when we left the Philippines, and we were flying First Class. On the way, our plane had engine trouble, and we had to stop and stay in Hawaii for a week. What a hardship that was for us!

Later, after I left the service, I met my wife, became a self-employed plumber, and raised two sons. I didn’t join any Veterans’ Organizations, but I am glad that I had the opportunities and experiences that the Coast Guard provided me as a young man.